Party-line-telephone mechanism.



, PATENTBD JAN. 8, 190.7. C. H.' WOOD. PARTYr LINE TELEPHONE MEGHANISM.

APPLIUATION FILED FEB. 17. 19.04..

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1HE clams PETERS ca., WASHINGTON. D. c4

" No. 840,544, PATBNTED JAN. a, 19o?.

- C. H1 WOOD. PARTY vLINE TELEPHONE MECHANISM.

A PPLIUATION'FILED PEB. 17, 1904.

2 SEEE -SHEET 2, 'SMT/0N SMT/0N l I l I l l UTEP; STATES ATENT OFFICE.

TO JOHN T. HOBBS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO. PA'RTY-LINE-TELEPHONE MECHANISM.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 8, 1907.

Application filed February 17, 1904. Serial No. 193.962.

v To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES H. WOOD, 4a citizen of the United Statesresiding at Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Party-Line-Telephone Mechanism, of which thefollowing is a specification, that will enable those skilled 'in the artto which my invention pertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The objects are to provide selective mechanism, located at eachsubscribers station, l

operated through a line-wire separate from the talking-circuit line anddesigned normally to insure the connection of any desired subscribersapparatus in the talkingcircuit, either upon his transmitting a call tothe exchange or central oi'lice or upon being selectively called by theexchange, and to effect the disconnection of all other subscribersstations during the continuance of a conversation, thus insuring privacyfor the parties communicating, each station of course being normallyconnected in the talking-line when that line is not busy, so that thesubscriber may be able to transmit a signal-call to the exchange.

For the purpose of illustration, in the system herein shown thesubscribers stations are connected in series upon the talking-line and aseparate or selector line extends through the stations and includes ateach station simple step-by-step mechanism for effecting the severalcircuit changes in selectively connecting and disconnecting the varioussubscribers telephone-line apparatus and for controlling the lock-outmechanism. If desired, there may also be included in the step-by-stepmechanism of each station an indicator for showing at all times thecondition of the line. By these means only the subscribers apparatusactually in service are connected with the talking-line during aconversation, and impedance in the talking-circuit is thereby avoided.Hence the talkingline is not materially affected by the number ofstations on it. Extending, as usual-ly a party-line does, to a centraloi-lice or exchange, connections are more commonly made at this exchangebetween two different party-lines; but in order to simplify my drawingsI have chosen to illustrate and describe the selection of a station onthe same line with the calling-station for the purpose of conversation;but should the stations to be connected be on different party-lines theprinciples of operation would in every instance be identical, thetwolines'being connected at the exchange in the usual manner.

Little change in standard apparatus either yat subscribersstations or atthe exchange is demanded by my invention.

The accompanying drawings show my invention by diagrammatic views in theform now preferred by me; but changes not requiring the exercise ofinvention might be made therein by a skilled mechanic without departingfrom the spirit of my invention as set forth in the claims at the end ofthis speciiication.

In the drawings, Figure l is a diagrammatic view ofthe arrangement ofthe instruments at a subscribers station. Fig. 2is a vertical elevation,partly in section, of a portion of the instrumentalities for selectingthe subscribers vto be connected. Fig. 3 is a face view of thedial-indicator at each station, showing whether the line is in or out ofuse. Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view of the ratchet-wheel andlifting-cams of the selecting mechanism. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are diagramsillustrating certain conditions on a party line, as will bev hereinafterfully explained, it being understood that Figs. 5 and 6 are alsoprovided with a central station or exchange similar to that shown inFig. '7, this exchange being suitably equipped with any of the usualdevices employed at such oiiices to receive from and transmit calls tosubscribers stations over the telephone-lines in the manner nowpracticed, my invention necessitating no change in this respect in thestandard equipment of an exchange; but as my invention contemplates theuse of a separate line-wire to operate the step-by-step selectormechanisms of the stations on a party-line the exchange is also providedwith a battery, a key or other suitable device for sending currentimpulses over the selectorline, a step-by-step mechanism to be actuatedby these impulses in unison with the actuation of the several similardevices at the stations, and an indicator to show the progress ofmovement and the condition of the line.

This invention relates more particularly to the equipment of thesubscribers stations on IOO a party-line than to the central station,eX-

vcept for the battery, key, or circuit-breaker,

and stepbystep mechanism at the central station, which are in a separateline or circuit from that over which the call-signals and telephoning isdone, and it is not considered necessary, therefore, to fully illustratethe telephone and signaling arrangements at the central station, as theymay be of any desired form or combination that will receive a signal,visible or audible, from the sub scriber who removes his receiver fromthe hooked lever and that will send suitable bellcalls to the subscriberwho is being called for.

At each subscribers station there is the usual telephonie transmitter A,receiver B, and call-bell C, with a hook-lever D, forked for thereception of the receiverB and pivoted vat d. A spring d' acts to swingthis lever when the weight of the receiver is removed from the hook. Inone position this lever bears against a stop or contact-point C',connected to the bell by wire c, and in its other position it bearsagainst a similar contactstop A', connected to the telephones by thewire a. The inner depending end of the hook-lever has a side projectingstud or pin d2, which engages a circuit-lever E, pivoted at e. Thislever is permanently connected into the telephone-circuit, which isrepresented by the line-wires L and L', of a full metallic circuit, theconnection being made by the flexible wire fw to the screw e' on thelever. A spring e2 tends to force the long end of the lever down and itsshorter end up against a contact-stop E', which is directly connected bywire Qc to the binding-post Y of the line-wire L'.

At its opposite or long end the circuit-lever is forked, as shown, theprongs standing in such relation to the stud-pin d2 of the hookleverthat it will pass -into their embrace. The upper prong e3 is curvedupwardly and pointed, as shown, this point being so related to thestud-pin d2 that the said pin in its movement will pass into contactengagement with the under side of the prong and lift the end of thecircuit-lever, while if this end of the circuit-lever is lowered thepoint of the prong e3 will drop past the pin d2. rlhe lower prong of thefork is composed of a spring e4, which extends beyond the prong e3,curving upwardly and contacting with the pin d2.

The end of the circuit-lever is hinge-jointed to the main portion of thelever on the pivot c5 with shoulder-stops e, which permit downwardfleXure only of the point of the lever, the spring e4 bearing againstthe hinged section to hold it up against the stops. This provision ismade to prevent accident should a subscriber happen to have his receiveroff the hook at a time when his circuit-lever is dropped to its lowestposition and then raised and locked up when he replaces his receiver.`In such an event the pin d2 would simply depress the point c3 againstthe spring, pressure and ride over it to the position shown in Fig. l.On the lower side of the circuit-lever is formed a lug c7, as shown,broad enough to lie` across the faces of two cam-disks F and F', mountedupon a shaft G and each provided with a lug f and f adapted to engagethe lug e7 of the circuit-lever and raise the lever at stated intervals.shaft G is also a ratchet-Wheel H, having any decided number ofteeth-proportioned to the number of subscribers, &c., on the line. Theseteeth are engaged by a pawl t on an armature-lever I, which is actuatedby an electromagnet I' through electric impulses sent over anindependent operating-wire M from the central station. A spring 'L'operates to draw the lever back to its normal position, and stops f1?and i3 regulate the length of its throw. A spring dog or pawl i4 engagesthe ratchet-teeth in the manner of a drag, thus preventing the wheeleither from overrunning or falling back from its true position aftereach impulse imparted to it by the pawl i.

At the central office and preferably also at each subscribers stationthe step-by-step selection instrument is provided with a hand or pointerlc, aflixed to the end of the shaft G and moving around over the face ofa dial K,

as will be readily understood.

When the hands point to zero, the line is free-and out of use; butpointing elsewhere would indicate at once to a subscriber desiringcommunication that the line is in use by other parties.

In Fig. 1 I have illustrated an arrangement adapted for a line havingsixteen subscribers stations, and the ratchet-wheel has thereforeeighteen teeth, one for each subscriber, one for the zero-point orcircuit-levers all up and one for the blank space or circuit-levers alldown, except, maybe, that of the calling subscriber. Now one of the twocani-lugsf will be set the same at all stations at Zero, while theother, will be set away from it circumferentially a given number ofteeth from two up to seventeen progressively for each station in theline, so that at no two of the stations. are the lugs f' in contact withtheir respective circuit-levers at the same time. To carry this intoeffect, I prefer to mount the cani-disks F and F' on the hub of theratchet-wheel, which is provided with heXagon or squared portion h forthe zero-cam F and a cylindrical and partly screw-thread portion 7L' forthe reception of the selecting-cam F' with its washer h2 andclamping-nut h3. Each cani-disk F is provided with a fixed stud-pin:land each canidisk F' with a series of holes f, corresponding to theteeth on the ratchet-wheel, so that while the disks F' maybe all niadealike each maybe set on its stud-pin to suit the position its lug f isto occupy in the line system. In

On the IOO IOS

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all these diagrams the full lines representing circuits show the closedcircuits, while the dotted lines show the open or broken circuits.

In the normal position of rest the situation of the instruments in eachstation is shown by Fig. 1, the bell being in the telephone-wire circuitfrom line-wire L through wire w, circuit-lever E, hook-lever D, contactC', wire c and wire c', and post-Y to line-wire L, the dotted lines ofthe telephone-circuits being cut out.

Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are diagrams showing the positions of the stationmechanisms at several stages of placing, two of the several stations ona common line in connection.

In Fig. 5 subscriber 1 has removed his receiver from the hook-lever,which engages and locks up his circuit-lever, so that he cannot be cutout of the line by the rotation of his own ratchet and cam-shaft. Thismovement of the hook-lever also cuts out his bell and throws histelephone instruments into the telephone-line from line-wire L throughwire w, circuit-lever E, hook-lever D, contact A', and wires a, a', andc2 to the post Y and line-wire L. This subscriber then asks central forsubscriber No. 3 and meanwhile keeps his own receiver oit the hook.Central now sends, by means of the battery O and key P, a sufficientnumber of current impulses over the operating-wire M to bring thecam-lug f of station 3 into supporting engagement of the circuit-leverof that station, so that this lever will be raised and held up intoposition where its spring contacts with the pin d2 and completes thetelephoneline circuit through No. 3s bell. This situation is shown inFig. 6, where No. 1 is locked into the telephone-circuit and No. 3 isready for the bell-call, all the other stations having their circuit-levers down, thereby cutting out both their bell and telephone-stationcircuits, but closing the main-line yL L through the wire W,circuit-lever E, contact rE', and wire x to post Y and line L.

Fig. 7 shows the situation when No. 3 has removed his receiver from thehook-lever, his telephone instruments and tho'se of No. 1 station andcentral station being the only ones in the line, all of the bells andtelephones at the other stations having been cut out in such manner thatnone of them can get in on the line until central at the termination ofservice between Nos. 1 and 3 runs all of the stations back to Zero.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, ish

1. In a subscribers-station apparatus for multiple-station telephonesystem, the combination of a circuit-controlling lever or part connectedin the telephone-circuit, a switchhook coacting therewith to normallyestablish connection with the station apparatus, an electromagnetconnected in a separate line to be actuated Jrom a distant station,stepby-step mechanism controlled thereby and means therein forcontrolling the circuit-controlling part or lever into and out ofelectrical in the subscribers-station apparatus for controlling thelocal circuits thereof, the said-cir-4 cuit-controlling part normallycoacting therewith but adapted, under the inuence of the rotatablemember, to become disconnected therefrom and cut the subscribers-stationapparatus out of the telephone-circuit, substantially as described.

3. In a subscribers-telephone-station apparatus, the combination of aswitch-lever for the station-circuits, actuated in the use of thetelephone, a circuit-lever connected to one station-terminal of thetelephone main line and having alternative positions respectivelyconnecting the station apparatus with the line or disconnecting andshunting it out of the line, the circuit-lever havin a bifurcated endadapted to engage a mem er ofthe switch-lever between its prongs intheir normal position and when the telephone is in use, but when thestation apparatus is cut out of the line to lie below the path of saidmember on the switch-lever, substantially as set forth.

4. In a subscribers-telephone-station aparatus, the combination of aswitch-lever For the station-circuits, actuated in the use of thetelephone, a circuit-lever connected to one station-terminal of thetelephone main line and having alternative positions, electricalmechanism adapted to be operated from a distant station to control thepositions of the circuit-lever, which, in one position is in electricalconnection with the switch-lever and in the other position out ofelectrical connection with the switch-lever and in electrical connectionwith the other station-terminal of the telephone main line,substantially as described.

5. In a subscribers-telephone-station apparatus, the combination of aswitch-lever, actuated in the use of the telephone, a circuitlevercoacting therewith and having a bifurcated end adapted to engage amember of the switch-lever between its forks for the purpose described,a rotatable mechanism adapted to raise and hold the bifurcated end ofthe circuit-lever in contact with and proper presentation ior theengaging member of the switchlever or to drop it below the ran e of saidmember, one prong of the circuitever fork being constructed to yieldwith sufficient downward iieXure to permit of the return of IOO ITO

thev engaging member of the switch-lever to its normal position in theevent of the circuitlever being raised and looked before such return,substantially as described.

6. In a subscribers-telephone-station apparatus, for a multiple-stationparty-line, the combination of a switch-lever for the stationcircuitsactuated in the use of the telephone, a circuit-lever connected to onestati0n-terminal of the telephone main line and having alternativeelectrical connection with the switch-lever or with the otherstation-terminal ofthe line, a rotatable mechanism, adapted to beelectrically operated from a distant station and provided with twocam-lugs adapted to engage the circuit-lever, one of said lugs, thezero-lug, havin a Xed position in the rotatable mechanism, While theother lug, the subscribers-service lug, may beset and secured at apredetermined. point away from the zero-lugI substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication in thepresence of' two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES H. WOOD.

Witnesses:

WM. A. SKINKLE, S. C. BLAKE.

